The Oregon Arts Commission awarded ten Cultural Tourism grants totaling $70,000, including a $6,000 grant to Arts Central to support the Cultural Byways of Central Oregon, a collaborative arts and cultural marketing project.
Cultural Byways will establish a comprehensive database of cultural activities throughout the region using the Scenic Byways model. Approaches will include brochures and a website.
First launched in 2008 through Oregon’s Culture, History, Art, Movies, Preservation (CHAMP) cultural reinvestment initiative, these grants support projects and partnerships that advance arts-based cultural tourism activities, strengthening the links between the arts, tourism industry and local economic development.
“This year’s awards reflect new strategies and collaborations between arts groups and local partners to use arts and culture to strengthen the participation of visitors to the region’s artistic assets,” said Christine D’Arcy, Arts Commission executive director.
The 2012 grantees also include the Ross Ragland Theater, which proposed a new promotional effort, Eat, Stay, Play, promoting the cultural treasures of the Klamath Basin, as well as the Cultural Byways, a collaborative arts and cultural marketing effort led by Arts Central in Bend, and Portland-based Miracle Theatre, who applied for funding to develop “fam” tours for educators, journalists and key leaders from the Latino community.
Twenty-four proposals, requesting over $180,000, were reviewed. The Cultural Tourism grant panel was chaired by Oregon Arts Commissioner Libby Tower of Eugene and included Barbara Steinfeld, Tourism Vice President , Travel Portland; Kari Westlund, President and CEO, Travel Lane County; Lee Weinstein, owner, Weinstein PR, and Scott West, Chief Strategy Office, Travel Oregon.
The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding and arts programs through its grants, special initiatives and services. Nine commissioners, appointed by the Governor, determine arts needs and establish policies for public support of the arts. The Arts Commission became part of Business Oregon (formerly Oregon Economic and Community Development Department) in 1993 in recognition of the expanding role the arts play in the broader social, economic and educational arenas of Oregon communities. In 2003, the Oregon legislature moved the operations of the Oregon Cultural Trust to the Arts Commission, streamlining operations and making use of the Commission’s expertise in grant-making, arts and cultural information and community cultural development.
The Arts Commission is supported with general funds appropriated by the Oregon legislature, federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts and funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust.
